Confirmed – Theresa Schafzahl to join the World Cham­pi­onship

The two warm-up games against Hungary on 12 and 13 April will still take place without Theresa Schafzahl. The 23-year-old, who plays for Boston in the PWHL, will travel to Austria shortly before the start of the World Championship and take part in the final preparations with the team. “Excitement, promotion, atmosphere” – these are the three words the player from Weiz uses to describe the upcoming home World Championship, with determination being what she considers her greatest strength. 

With Theresa Schafzahl, head coach Alexander Bröms can rely on a genuine key player. Should Anna Meixner also regain fitness in time for the World Championship, the Swede will have an almost full squad to choose from. 

Theresa Schafzahl made history twice over the past few months: on 18 September 2023, she was selected by Boston with the 39th pick in the inaugural draft of the newly founded Professional Women´s Hockey League, becoming the first Austrian woman to be selected in a draft in PWHL history.

At the start of the year, the league also got underway on the ice. On 3 January, in Boston’s first game against Minnesota, the Styrian scored the franchise’s very first goal in PWHL history in the 28th minute to make it 1:2. Even though the game ended in a 2:3 defeat, this moment will be remembered forever,Theresa Schafzahl: “Scoring the first goal is very special.”

The 23-year-old lives in a suburb of Boston. Speaking about her goals, she says: “I want to keep developing as a player so that one day I am among the best players in the PWHL and therefore in the world. Another goal is to win the PWHL championship with Boston and earn promotion to the Top Division with the national team.”

For the current edition of POWERPLAY magazine, available since last week at newsagents, selected specialist retailers and online (DIREKTLINK), we asked Theresa Schafzahl some quickfire questions:

My idol is...
Marie Philip Poulin

If I were not an ice hockey player today, I would be a...
An athlete in another sport

My favourite TV series is...
Schitt´s Creek

The game I would have liked to have been on the ice for...
IIHF Women´s Worlds Final: Finland vs. USA

My favourite travel destination is...
Hawaii

My favourite meal is...
Chocolate fondue with fruit

My motto in life is...
The point of living isn´t to arrive in the future, it´s to arise in the presence

My greatest weakness is...
My emotional nature

My greatest strength is...
My determination

This is the song I listen to before a game...
"The Man" by Taylor Swift

I have learned the most from this person...
My mother

My toughest opponent was...
Marie Philip Poulin

My favourite team as a child was...
Toronto Maple Leafs

Promotion to the A World Championship with Austria or a PWHL title with Boston?
Both

Score the decisive penalty or record a hat-trick in a landslide win?
Score the decisive penalty

Weiz or Boston?
Boston

Weights room or treadmill?
Weights room

The home World Championship in Klagenfurt in three words...
Anticipation, promotion, atmosphere

International friendlies

Hungary vs. Austria
Fri, 12 April 2024, 17:00, Budapest (HUN)

Hungary vs. Austria
Sat, 13 April 2024, 15:00, Budapest (HUN)

2024 IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship 2024

From 21 to 27 April 2024, Klagenfurt will host the 2024 IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship 2024. Austria will face Hungary, France, Norway, the Netherlands and South Korea for promotion to the Top Division. Following 2009 and 2017, it is the third Women’s World Championship to be held on Austrian ice.

Schedule

Norway vs. Austria
Sun, 21 April 2024, 18:30, Klagenfurt

Austria vs. South Korea
Mon, 22 April 2024, 19:30, Klagenfurt

France vs. Austria
Wed, 24 April 2024, 19:30, Klagenfurt

Austria vs. Hungary
Fri, 26 April 2024, 20:25, Klagenfurt

Austria vs. the Netherlands
Sat, 27 April 2024, 20:25, Klagenfurt